Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Jeanny White’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Jeanny White’, characterized by its decorative pompon-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped, white-colored ray florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Jeanny White’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium and referred to by the name ‘Jeanny White’.

The new Chrysanthemum is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Jeanny Pink, not patented. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor in March, 2004 as a single flowering plant within a population of plants of the cultivar Jeanny Pink in a controlled environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since April, 2004 has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Jeanny White has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Jeanny White’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Jeanny White’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Decorative pompon-type inflorescences with elongated         oblong-shaped, light yellow green to white-colored ray florets;         typically grown as a spray-type.     -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Early and uniform flowering response.     -   5. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the parent, the cultivar Jeanny Pink. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Jeanny Pink in ray floret coloration as plants of the parent selection had pink-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Jeanny Orange, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,287. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Jeanny Orange in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more freely flowering         than plants of the cultivar Jeanny Orange.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the cultivar Jeanny         Orange differed in ray floret coloration as plants of the         cultivar Jeanny Orange was golden orange.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum had more         disc florets than inflorescences of plants of the cultivar         Jeanny Orange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Jeanny White’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of the upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical inflorescences and leaves of ‘Jeanny White’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the autumn in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 17.5° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18.5° C. to 24° C. and light levels were about five kilolux. Plants were about nine weeks from planting when the photographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Jeanny     White. -   Commercial classification: Decorative pompon-type Chrysanthemum     typically grown as a spray-type cut flower. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the     Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Jeanny Pink, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 6 days at 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 7 days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 14 days at             20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 16 days at             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine and freely branching; light brown in             color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous decorative pompon-type cut             Chrysanthemum; typically grown as a spray-type; erect and             strong flowering stems. Moderately vigorous.         -   Flowering stem description.—Length: About 70 cm to 80 cm.             Diameter: About 6 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent.             Aspect: Erect. Branching habit: Plants are typically grown             as single stems. Color: 144A to 144B.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 4 cm to 11 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm to 8 cm. Apex:             Cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Pinnately lobed.             Texture, upper and lower surface: Pubescent; rough. Petiole             length: About 5 mm to 2.5 cm. Color: Developing foliage,             upper surface: 147A. Developing foliage, lower surface:             Closest to 137C. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface:             Closest to 137A; venation, 147C. Fully expanded foliage,             lower surface: Closest to 147B; venation, 147C. Petiole,             upper and lower surfaces: 147C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative pompon-type inflorescence form with             elongated oblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on             terminals above foliage. Disk and ray florets develop             acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences not fragrant.             Typically grown as a spray-type.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant             typically flower in November in the Northern Hemisphere. At             other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and             development can be induced under short day/long night             conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed             to long day/short night conditions after planting followed             by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower             about 7.5 weeks later. Early and uniform flowering response.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Cut inflorescences will maintain             good substance and form for about three weeks.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per flowering stem.—About 20 to             25 inflorescences per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Depth             (height): About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter of disc: About 9             mm.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About             8 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color: Between 137B and 138B.         -   Ray florets.—Length: About 9 mm to 2.2 cm. Width: About 2 mm             to 1 cm. Shape: Elongated oblong; incurving. Apex:             Emarginate. Base: Fused; tubular. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Number of ray             florets per inflorescence: About 365 in numerous whorls.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 155D; towards             the apex, 150D. When opening, lower surface: Close to 155B;             towards the apex, 150C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 155D. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155D; towards             the apex, 150D.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; elongated. Length: About 4 mm             to 5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per             inflorescence: About 35 to 40. Color, immature: 144C;             towards the apex, N144B. Color, mature: 7A; towards the             apex, N144B.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 5 cm. Length,             fourth peduncle: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:             About 45° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: No anthers observed on disc             florets. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.             Stigma length: About 4 mm. Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm.             Stigma color: Towards the apex, 153C; towards the base,             145B.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to known Chrysanthemum pathogens     and pests has not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Jeanny White’, as illustrated and described. 